Gene Simmons responds to NWA’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 30: (L-R) Rappers MC Ren, DJ Yella, Eazy-E and Dr. Dre of the rap group NWA pose for a portrait in 1991 in New York, New York. DJ Yella is giving the middle-finger. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
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Hip-hop group had called out the Kiss frontman during their acceptance speech

Kiss frontman Gene Simmons has responded to comments made by NWA at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame

The hip-hop group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame on Friday night (April 8) alongside Cheap Trick, Deep Purple, Chicago, Steve Miller and songwriter/producer Bert Berns at a ceremony in at the Barclay’s Centre in Brooklyn, New York.

NWA member MC Ren used the opportunity to hit back at Simmons, who criticised rap as a genre recently.

Simmons had told Rolling Stone: “I am looking forward to the death of rap. I’m looking forward to music coming back to lyrics and melody, instead of just talking. A song, as far as I’m concerned, is by definition lyric and melody… or just melody.”

He added: “Rap will die. Next year, 10 years from now, at some point, and then something else will come along. And all that is good and healthy.”

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At the ceremony, MC Ren responded by saying “I want to say to Mr. Gene Simmons that hip-hop is here forever. We’re supposed to be here.”

Ice Cube later added “The question is, ‘Are we rock and roll? And I say you goddamn right we rock ‘n’ roll. Rock and roll is not an instrument. It’s not even a style of music. It’s a spirit that’s been going on since the blues, jazz, bebop, soul, rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, heavy metal, punk rock, and yes, hip-hop.”

Now, Simmons has responded by tweeting: “Respectfully let me know when @JimiHendrix gets into the Hip Hop Hall Of Fame. Then you’ll have a point.” See the tweet below.

NWA declined to reform as a live outfit for the Hall Of Fame event, citing a “lack of support.”

Ice Cube recently spoke to The New York Times, confirming that the group won’t be performing, explaining: “I guess we really didn’t feel like we were supported enough to do the best show we could put on.”

Asked whether he perceived a lack of support from the organisers, Ice Cube replied: “Pretty much, yeah. We wanted to do it on a whole other level, and that just couldn’t happen.”

He went on to add: “But we’re totally honoured, humbled and appreciative to the Hall for even just considering us, inducting us and inviting us.”